SENTENCE STRUCTURE: OBJECTS & COMPLEMENTS

How to Analyze Sentence Structure

To identify objects and complements, the key is to know if the verb is an **Action Verb** (showing action) or a **Linking Verb** (linking the subject to a descriptor).

  1. Step 1: Find the Verb. Is it an action verb (like give, write, build) or a linking verb (like is, seems, becomes, tastes)?
  2. Step 2: Find the Subject. Ask "Who or What + [the verb]?"
  3. Step 3: Analyze the rest of the sentence. Use the questions in the sections below to find the specific objects or complements.

Direct Object (DO)

A direct object is the person or thing that directly receives the action of an **action verb**.

How to Identify: Ask the question: Subject + Verb + what? or whom?

10 Examples of Direct Objects:

  1. Sona loves Chinese food.
    (Analysis: Sona loves what? → Chinese food)
  2. Madhav plays the guitar.
    (Analysis: Madhav plays what? → the guitar)
  3. The company launched a new product.
    (Analysis: The company launched what? → a new product)
  4. She can break your face.
    (Analysis: She can break what? → your face)
  5. The teacher praised the students.
    (Analysis: The teacher praised whom? → the students)
  6. My brother built a sandcastle.
    (Analysis: My brother built what? → a sandcastle)
  7. Everybody loves Ashish.
    (Analysis: Everybody loves whom? → Ashish)
  8. The mechanic fixed the car.
    (Analysis: The mechanic fixed what? → the car)
  9. The author wrote a best-selling novel.
    (Analysis: The author wrote what? → a best-selling novel)
  10. We ate pizza for dinner.
    (Analysis: We ate what? → pizza)

Indirect Object (IO)

An indirect object is the person or thing that receives the direct object. An IO can only exist if there is a Direct Object, and it always comes **before** the Direct Object.

How to Identify: First, find the DO. Then ask: Subject + Verb + DO + to/for whom? or to/for what?

10 Examples of Indirect Objects:

  1. Rohan explained me the question.
    (Analysis: Explained the question to whom? → me)
  2. I gave Abhi 5 million dollars.
    (Analysis: Gave 5 million dollars to whom? → Abhi)
  3. I bought my mother a necklace.
    (Analysis: Bought a necklace for whom? → my mother)
  4. He gave me the book.
    (Analysis: Gave the book to whom? → me)
  5. The chef cooked the guests a delicious meal.
    (Analysis: Cooked a meal for whom? → the guests)
  6. She sent her friend an email.
    (Analysis: Sent an email to whom? → her friend)
  7. Please tell the children a story.
    (Analysis: Tell a story to whom? → the children)
  8. My father built our family a new house.
    (Analysis: Built a new house for whom? → our family)
  9. The company offered the candidate a job.
    (Analysis: Offered a job to whom? → the candidate)
  10. She made her son a birthday cake.
    (Analysis: Made a cake for whom? → her son)

Subject Complement (SC)

A subject complement follows a **linking verb** and either **renames** the subject (as a noun) or **describes** the subject (as an adjective).

How to Identify: Ask the question: Subject + Linking Verb + what? or how? The SC will be equal to or describe the subject.

10 Examples of Subject Complements:

  1. Ram is a boy.
    (Analysis: Ram = a boy. 'a boy' renames the subject 'Ram'.)
  2. He seems tired today.
    (Analysis: 'tired' describes the subject 'He'.)
  3. She is a brilliant scientist.
    (Analysis: She = a brilliant scientist. 'a brilliant scientist' renames 'She'.)
  4. The soup tastes wonderful.
    (Analysis: 'wonderful' describes the subject 'soup'.)
  5. My brother became a successful lawyer.
    (Analysis: 'a successful lawyer' renames 'My brother'.)
  6. After the long day, the students were exhausted.
    (Analysis: 'exhausted' describes the subject 'the students'.)
  7. The weather appears pleasant.
    (Analysis: 'pleasant' describes the subject 'The weather'.)
  8. Her father is a retired army officer.
    (Analysis: 'a retired army officer' renames 'Her father'.)
  9. The flowers in the garden smell sweet.
    (Analysis: 'sweet' describes the subject 'The flowers'.)
  10. The winner of the competition is she.
    (Analysis: 'she' renames the subject 'The winner'.)

Object Complement (OC)

An object complement follows a **Direct Object** and either **renames** the DO (as a noun) or **describes** the DO (as an adjective). It is used with action verbs like make, consider, call, name, elect, find.

How to Identify: Ask the question: Subject + Verb + Direct Object + what? The OC will be equal to or describe the DO.

10 Examples of Object Complements:

  1. The teacher selected him the monitor.
    (Analysis: him = the monitor. 'the monitor' renames the DO 'him'.)
  2. We invited him the chief guest.
    (Analysis: him = the chief guest. 'the chief guest' renames the DO 'him'.)
  3. The jury found the defendant guilty.
    (Analysis: 'guilty' describes the DO 'the defendant'.)
  4. The committee named him chairman.
    (Analysis: 'chairman' renames the DO 'him'.)
  5. The teacher considers her students intelligent.
    (Analysis: 'intelligent' describes the DO 'her students'.)
  6. We painted the house white.
    (Analysis: 'white' describes the DO 'the house'.)
  7. They elected Sarah class president.
    (Analysis: 'class president' renames the DO 'Sarah'.)
  8. I find this book very interesting.
    (Analysis: 'interesting' describes the DO 'this book'.)
  9. She calls her dog Buddy.
    (Analysis: 'Buddy' renames the DO 'her dog'.)
  10. The good news made everyone happy.
    (Analysis: 'happy' describes the DO 'everyone'.)
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